Method and apparatus for forming and treating metal wires



1968 L. WEGMANN ETAL 3,367,037

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND TREATING METAL WIRES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17, 1966 T N H S N R M ,7 R 55 ,w BU T M m N E E R R v 5 NGHNL WCHR v MHH U K L Feb. 6, 1968 L. WEGMANN ETAL 3,367,037

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND TREATING METAL WIRES Filed May 17, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG) INVENTOR LL/DW/G WEGMHNN ERICH RETH HRNS WEBER KARL REBUS H FY HMM M Feb. 6, 1968 1.. WEGMANN ETAL 3,367,037

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND TREATING METAL WIRES Filed May 17, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 N N H T MI H m6 m E E E E E B E Wm R W S wNm URn nn LE United States Patent Office 3,367,037 Patented Feb. 6, 1968 3,367,037 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND TREATING METAL WIRES Ludwig Wegmann, Duisburg, Erich Reth, Duisburg-Buchholz, and Hans Weber and Karl Rebuschat, Duisburg, Germany, assignors to Demag Aktiengesellschaft, Duisburg, Germany Filed May 17, 1966, Ser. No. 550,763 (Ilaims priority, application Germany, June 19, 1965, D 47,556 13 Claims. (Cl. 34-21) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and apparatus for forming and treating metal wires is disclosed wherein the wires to be treated are first formed into a coil and individual coils or separated groups of coils are conveyed through a treatment shaft wherein treatment fluid is directed over the wires for the purpose of forming the metallic structure of the wires into a desired structural consistency. Of particular importance in respect to the present inventive disclosure is the directing of the treatment fluid which comprises cooling air in a plurality of individual flow paths which extend tangentially and obliquely upward against the coiled wire. The apparatus includes a rotatable element for forming the wire into successive convolutions or coils which are picked up either one at a time or in groups such that a major portion of the periphery of each coil is exposed for flow of the treatment air thereover so that the formation of the metal surface will become uniform during the cooling process.

This invention relates, in general, to a method and apparatus for forming and treating metal wires and to a new and useful process and apparatus for air treating rolled wires which come from the rolling mill and wherein newly formed coils of wires are treated by blowing cooling air through a plurality of individual flow passages tangentially into and up through a treatment shaft through which coils of the wires are directed.

The present invention is an improvement over the invention disclosed and claimed in copending application Scr. No. 512,105, filed in the name of Ludwig Wegmann and Erich Reth, two of the inventors of the present application, on Dec. 7, 1965. The present invention deals with the method and equipment for air treatment (patenting) of rolled Wires coming directly from a rolling mill. The wires are wound by a rotating arm into an open coil and the coils are successively fed by a chain conveyor element downwardly to a cooling or air treating shaft. In the previous application the cooling air was directed into the shaft intermediate the height thereof and the air exited through the opening on the top of the shaft. The cooling air flow is over the coils of wire which rested directly on conveyor elements and the air was heated by the transfer of heat from the wire to the air which therefore rose through the treating shaft with little difiiculty.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an improved construction for directing cooling air into the treatment shaft through which the coils of wire are directed. The construction includes means for directing the air in plurality of individual flow paths tangentially at several points around the shaft periphery and obliquely upwardly. In the preferred arrangement the air introduced first encompasses the wire in the direction of its circumference and uniformly all around its cross section. With such an arrangement, the cooling air has sufiicient time to absorb as much heat as possible so that it can subsequetly rise rapidly in the shaft. The air which is heated for this relatively long period of time momentarily loses much of its specific gravity and is discharged quickly upwardly through the top of the shaft. According to this method, time is provided to permit cooling of the wire structure from the temperature above the conversion point (A0 as fast as possible but not abruptly. The method is very beneficial for the reason that where carrying members are used, they are then not able to act as a shield against air fiow.

In accordance with a preferred method, the air is introduced into the treating shaft for the coiled wire at a greater angle to the horizontal in the upper areas of the shaft than in the lower area. The wires which are directed into the shaft adjacent the upper end thereof have a much greater heat content as compared to the coils which are already cooled as they descend through the shaft. Therefore it is advantageous to carry out a comparatively big jump in temperature above the conversion point (A0 by blowing the cooling air in more steeply. This produces very satisfactory results since the heat conductivity of the air is greater in the higher temperature ranges which will be encountered at the upper end of the shaft adjacent the newly introduced wire elements.

The equipment employed for implementing the method of the invention includes an air duct construction surrounding the shaft through which the wire coils are introduced which includes a plurality of vertically arranged plates which divide the inflow path vertically and which are bent at their inner ends in order to direct the air tangentially into the shaft at the outer circumference thereof. The flow paths are further divided horizontally by sealing members which are bent upwardly adjacent the upper end of the shaft at a greater extent than at the lower end of the shaft in order to provide a sharp upward entrance angle at the upper portion of the shaft and an entrance angle of a lesser amount at the lower end and thus to take care of the higher temperatures which exist at the upper ends of the shafts in relation to the lower end. The construction provides a plurality of restricted channel passages for directing the cooiling air tangentially into the cooling shaft at an angle and location such that the air proceeds around a single turn of the wire coils. Air currents which are readily controllable are assigned to the various coils. Individual sectors can be switched off by means of flaps or the like which are formed by the vertical division plates or the horizontal division ceilings. Individual sectors or area portions may be switched on or oif by means of flaps or the like. In some instances it is preferable to include temperature measuring devices in the various channel cross sections in order to provide more favorable temperature adjustment at the various levels of the shaft to achieve the most desirable treatment cooling of the wire coils. Under proper conditions, an annular column of cooling air rotating around the axis of the shaft can he achieved so that the hardening process for the wire coils may proceeds uniformly over the entire length of the material to be cooled. This advantage applies not only in respect to the structure of the wire, but also to its surface which is of importance for the reason that the wire is possibly subjected to a subsequent additional cold drawing operation.

In the preferred construction, the sealing elements dividing the air flow paths vertically are advantageously made to provide a slight downward infi-ow of air and then the air is turned for discharge abruptly into the treating shaft. The flow channels are such that deflection of the air from horizontal to vertical direction takes place gradually, and for this purpose, the current of cooling air is given a guided impulse. After the flow of air has been started and uplift develops which is to be limited to that section through which the various wire coils travel.

A further improvement provided by the invention includes a vertical wall division for the individual air flow paths which includes ceiling division elements which have a relatively small angle of departure at the lower portion of the shaft in comparison to the upper portion thereof. The upper portion includes a steep approach angle which causes the cooling air to rise more rapidly when delivered into the shaft. Moreover, the heat of the wire arriving in a red hot condition at the upper portion of the shaft can thus be dissipated more quickly. Parts of the cross section of the shaft which are comparatively difiicult to reach will also be flown through by the cooling air in a reliable manner should one of the coils be temporarily deposited there. The sealing elements are also advantageously arranged so that the cross flow passages will be of uniform area, at least during the portion of the travel of the air in an upward direction into the shaft. The arrangement provides the generation of a relatively calm flow with developed current paths which contribute to the uniform heat dissipation and to the utilization of the air supplied in an efficacious manner. Eddy formation, which would render the control of the various flow cross sections more difficult, can be regulated in a simple manner by the proper channeling arrangement.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved method of treating rolled wires coming directly from a rolling mill andwound into coils which are deposited in a treatment shaft which comprises directing cooling air against the wires in individual flow paths tangentially around the periphery of the coiled Wires at several locations throughout the shaft and in an upwardly directed direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for treating wires which are delivered in a hot condition from a rolling mill and which are wound into coils in a treatment shaft which includes means for directing cooling air tangentially against the periphery of the wires at several distinct flow path locations in the shaft and in an upward direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for directing cooling air against hot wires which are rolled into coils in an annular treatment shaft which includes means defining a plurality of horizontally and vertically divided flow passages for the cooling air which are shaped to direct the air tangentially around in the cooling shaft and which are further shaped to impart an upward motion to the air which is directed into the cooling shaft, and wherein at the upper portion of the shaft, the cooling air is directed at an angle which is greater from the horizontal than the air which is directed into the shaft at the lower portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for treating coiled wires in a hot condition which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an axial vertical section of a wire coiling and treatment device constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a partial vertical section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises a device for coiling and treating wire which is delivered in a hot state froma rolling mill and which includes a spindle head 1 through which the wire is directed. Spindle head 1 includes means for feeding the wire to rotating arms 2 which throw the wire into coils into an annular shaft 7v which is formed by an outer cylindrical wall 7a and an inner cylindrical wall 7!). The apparatus includes endless conveyors generally designated 6 which are oriented at a plurality of locations around the circumference of the shaft 7 and includes articulated rod elements 5 which are presented, one after the other, into the shaft as'the conveyor 6 is moved. As indicated, when positioned in the shaft 7, the rod elements assume an oblique position and may hold one or more coils or windings of the metal being treated. Each conveyor 6 includes guiding sprockets 6a over which the articulated rod elements 5 are fed. Two of the driving sprockets 6a, 6a are substantially in vertical alignment in order to provide a vertically extending reach for the conveyor which will move downwardly through the shaft 7. In accordance with the invention, the hot wire which is coiled in the shaft 7 is treated during its downward movement on the rods 5 of the conveyor 6. The treatment comprises a cooling treatment which is accomplished by blowing a fluid such as air into a substantially annular chamber 16 which is defined around the shaft 17. A feature of the invention is that the air which is directed into the shaft 7 is directed through a plurality of separate flow paths which are formed at separate locations around the periphery of the shaftway 7 and also along its height.

As best indicated in FIG. 2, a multiplicity of small flow passages or channels are defined between the annular air chamber 16 and the shaft 7 by a plurality of angularly spaced vertical walls 40 and a plurality of vertically spaced ceiling members or walls 32. The ceiling members 32 and the vertical walls 40 are advantageously anchored at their outer ends to a circumferential boundary wall 16a which defines the inner boundary of the air chamber 16. The inner ends of the ceiling members 32 and the vertical wall 40 are advantageously constructed such that they may be bent to any desired configuration for the purpose of providing the most desirable air flow into the shaft 7. As indicated in FIG. 2, all of the flow passages 31 are directed at their innermost ends in the manner such that i the air is directed tangentially into the shaft 7. The innermost ends of the walls 40 may advantageously be provided with flaps 31a which may be adjusted for providing minor variations in the flow conditions of the air which is directed into the shaft 7.

As indicated in FIG. 3, sealing walls 32 are advantageously for-med such that air is delivered either substantially horizontally from the chamber 16 toward the shaft 17 adjacent the bottom portion of the shaft and somewhat downwardly at the intermediate portion. Each sealing wall is bent at 32a in order to direct the air upwardly before it is delivered into the shaft 7. A feature of the construction is that air will be directed upwardly at a lesser angle at the passages adjacent the bottom wall 32d than will be the case for the passages which are located closer to the top wall 32c. It will be noted, in particular, that the passages labeled 31d at the upper portion of the shaft 7 are provided with a large distance portion in which the height of the channel is substantially uniform whereas the channels labeled 3112 at the lower portion have only a short distance of uniform height. More important,

' shaft, however, will be cooled already to a certain degree,

and thus the air may be directed with a greater horizontal component.

It should be appreciated that variations in the fiow pattern may be made in accordance with the temperature conditions of the air as sensed by temperature indicators located adjacent the outlets of the channels 32. Such corrections may be made either instantaneously such as by remote control mechanism or directly by bending the ends of the vertical walls 40 or the sealing walls 32.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of treating metal wires comprising directing the wire in a heated condition around a tubular element to form successive separated groups of coils each of which includes at least one coil and wherein in groups with more than one coil the coils are separated sufficiently to expose a major portion of the periphery of each coil, conveying away each group separately as it is formed at a controlled rate, treating the Wire by directing cooling air in a plurality of individual flow paths tangentially and obliquely upwardly against the coiled wire groups as the groups are being conveyed, and collecting the wire of a plurality of groups into coiled stacks after treatment.

2. A method of treating metal wires according to claim 1, using a shaftway defining a vertical treatment zone into which the wires are directed in the form of a coil, comprising conveying the coiled wires through the shaftway and directing a cooling fluid in a plurality of individual flow passages tangentially against the wire as it is conveyed through said shaftway.

3. A device for treating metal wire comprising a winding spool, means defining a shaft treating area around said spool, a winding arm rotatably mounted for rotation around said spool for directing wire around said spool and forming separated successive coils of said wire thereon, conveyor means engageable with said wire coils and holding said coils in a separated coil arrangement leaving the individual coils exposed over a major portion of their peripheries, said conveyor means being movable for moving said coils therewith along said winding spool in the shaftway in their separated arrangement, and means for directing a treating fluid through a plurality of separate fluid passageways tangentially against the wires as it is moved by said conveyor means.

4. A device according to claim 3, including an annular air chamber defined around said shaft treating area, and wall means defining a plurality of passages extending from said air chamber to coils formed around said spool in said treating area, said wall means being shaped to direct air tangentially against said coils.

5. A method of coiling and treating metal wires comprising directing the wire in a heated condition around a tubular element to form successive coils of the wire, conveying away each coil as it is formed, and directing cooling air in a plurality of individual flow paths tangentially and obliquely upwardly against the coiled wire as it is being conveyed, said wires being conducted through a vertical treatment zone and the cooling air being directed at varying angles from the lower portion to the upper portion of the treating zone.

6. A method of coiling and treating metal wires using a shaftway With a central tubular element between which there is defined a vertical treatment zone comprising directing the wire in a heated condition around said tubular element to form successive coils of the wire, conveying away each coil through the shaftway as it is formed and directing a cooling air in a plurality of individual flow passages tangentially against the wire as it is conveyed through said shaftway, said cooling air being directed at a diiferent angle adjacent the top of the shaftway than adjacent the bottom of the shaftway.

7. A method of coiling and treating metal wires using a shaftway defining a vertical treatment zone comprising directing the wire in a heated condition into the shaftway in a manner to fonrn successive coils of the wire, conveying away each coil as it is formed through the shaftway and directing a cooling fluid in a plurality of individual flow passages obliquely, upwardly and tangentially against the wire as it is conveyed through said shaftway, the air directed against the coiled wire being directly upwardly at a greater angle adjacent the top of the shaftway than adjacent the bottom portions of the shaftway.

8. A device for coiling and treating metal wire comprising a winding spool, means defining a shaft treating area around said spool, a winding arm rotatably mounted for rotation around said spool for directing Wire around said spool and forming successive coils of said wire thereon, conveyor means engageable with said wire for moving the coils along said winding spool in the shaft treating area, means for directing a treating fluid through a plurality of separate fluid pasageways tangentially against the Wire as it is moved by said conveyor means, an annular air chamber defined around said shaft treating area, and wall means defining a plurality of passages extending from said air chamber to said coils of wire formed around said spool in said shaft treating area, said wall means being shaped to direct air tangentially against said coils and including a plurality of angularly spaced vertical walls extending from said air chamber to said coils of wire and being bent in a single direction for directing air tangentially against said coils of wire.

9. A device for coiling and treating metal wire comprising a winding spool, means defining a shaft treating area around said spool, a winding arm rotatably mounted for rotation around said spool for directing wire around said spool and forming successive coils of said wire thereon, conveyor means engageable with said wire for moving the coils along said winding spool in the shaft treating area, means for directing a treating fluid through a plurality of separate fluid passageways tangentially against the wire as it is moved by said conveyor means, said shaft treating area comprising a shaftway defined around said winding spool, said conveyor means being movable through said shaftway to move said coils of wire therethrough, means defining an annular air chamber surrounding said shaftway, and means defining a plurality of passages extending from said annular air chamber to said shaf tway for directing air tangentially against the coils moving through said shaftway.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said means defining said plurality of passageways includes spaced vertical walls having inner end portions adjacent the shaft which are bent in a common direction.

11. A device according to claim 9, wherein said means defining a plurality of flow passages include a plurality of sealing walls spaced from each other in a substantially vertical direction and being oriented to direct air upwardly from said air chamber to said shaft.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said sealing members are shaped to provide for a more vertical flow of the air directed outwardly through the upper ones of said passages adjacent the upper end of said shaft than through the lower ones of said passages adjacent the lower end of said shaft.

13. A device according to claim 10, including flap means on said vertical walls for varying the angle of disposition thereof for varying the flow conditions through said fluid passages.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 895,973 8/1908 Daniels 24279 2,598,537 5/1952 Hanson 24280 2,924,445 2/1960 Morgan 266-6 KENNETH W. SPRAGUE, Primary Examiner. 

